Feeler mechanism for looms



I. SNOW.

, 20. 1,387,323, Patented Aug. 9, 192].- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. SNOW. FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1920.1,887, 3280 g 9,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES ISAAC SNOW, 0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN'OR '1ODRAIPER CQRP O OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PATENT OFFICE.

RATION,

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'Q9, 1921.

Application filed March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,157,

tially exhausted.

Various forms of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been suggested, amongthese is that type of feeler mechanism wherein the feeler member ismoved longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantiallyexhausted on a detecting beat, and by such movement effectsreplenishment of filling. The present invention is more especiallydirected to improvements on this type of feeler mechanisms, and aims toprovide a feeler mechanism which shall be sensitive to the presence orsubstantial absence of filling in the shuttle, so that partial picksshall be avoided, and yet the filling shall be re plenished with theleast amount of waste.

In the present invention, the feeler con sists of an inherentlyresilient member having a longitudinally extending portion fastened toan element carried by the loom frame and a second toothed portion positioned to project into the shuttle to engage a surface therein upon eachdetecting beat, the resilient feeler being so constructed that a forceexerted upon the toothed end of the same by a surface within theshuttlewill tend toswing the feeler laterally; but due to the construction ofthe feeler, this lateral swinging movement will be prevented so long asthere is a substantial amount of filling within, the shuttle to beengaged by the teeth of the feeler. The resilient feeler is operativelyconnected to the filling replenishing mechanism so that when a lateralor side swipe movement is imparted to the filling engaging portion ofthe feeler,

the. desired filling replenishment will be effected.

The various novel features of the invention and combination of partswill best be understood from the following description and accompanyingdrawings of one good form of the nventlon, it'being understood that thedetails may be varied without departing from the real scope of theclaims to be hereinafter made.

In the drawings y l igure 1 shows a portion of a loom having the feelermechanism forming the subjectmatter of this invention applied thereto;Fig. 2 IS a detached detail on an enlarged scale, Sl'KiWlIlg theaipltion of the feeler mechanlsm wien a wor 'n su l of fillin ispreisented 1n the shuttl on h dletecting b at; an

Flg. 3 1s a view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the action of thefeeler mechanism when the fillmg is substantially exhausted.

The loom frame 1 may be of usual construction suitable for supportingthe operating parts. Secured to the loom frame are bearmg brackets 2 oneach side of the loom, for supportmg the transverse or rock shaft 3.Rlsing from therock shaft 3 is the arm 4, to the upper end of which ispivotally connected at 5 the latch 6, the rear end portion 7 of whlch 1sadapted to be engaged by an operat ng member 8 when filling is to be relenished.

he lay is provided With the usual shuttlebox 9 for the reception of theshuttle 10. The front wall of the shuttle-box is slotted at 11, and soalso is the adjacent wall of the shuttle as at 12, the construction beinsuch that when the shuttle in which the fillng carrier 13 is mounted, isin the replenishing. box, the slots or openings 11 and 12 of theshuttle-box and shuttle will register to permit the entrance of thefeeler as willappear later.

he shipper stand 14 has extending therefrom the slotted supporting arm15, on which is adj ustably mounted the feeler stand 16. This stand maybe adjustably secured to the arm 15 by a bolt or the like 17.

Upon the upper face of the stand 16 is mounted the resilient feeler,which is designated in its entirety by the numeral 18,- the same beingshown as constructed of relatlvely heavy spring wire. The feelerpreferably consists of a laterally-extending port1on 19 and arearwardly-extending portion 20.- In the embodiment of the inventionshown, the outer end of the laterally-extendupper face of the feelerstand 16 by a plate 22 secured to the stand 16 by bolts 23. The feeler,

18 may also be provided with a coil 24 positioned between-the inner endof the laterallyextending arm 19 and the rearwardly extending portion ofthe feeler.

' rier 13 or the filling thereupon, upon a detecting beat of the lay.Pivotally mounted to a portion of the feeler stand 16 is the feeleroperatedlever 26, to which a portion .of the feeler 18 is operativelysecured; In

the embodiment shown, the feeler is provided with a relatively longstraight shank formed by one leg of the U-shaped constructionabove-mentioned, and this leg or shank 29 is slidably mounted indrillholes formed through portions 27 and 28 of the lever 26. The outerend of the leg or shank 29 is preferably bent as at 30 to form a stop tothereby prevent the leg from being entirely withdrawn from thedrill'holes The outer end of thepivoted lever 26 is operativelyconnected to a bell crank lever 31 by means of a link or the like 32,the arrangement being such that when the lever 26 is rocked to'the rightwith respect to Fig. l, by the feeler 18, this rocking movement will beimparted to the bell crank lever 31 to raise the latch 6 to therebyeffect filling replenishment, in a well known manner.

Since the feeler 18 consists of the part, 20 and a transverselyextendingpart 19, the outer'end of which is secured to the feeler stand, thefillingengaging end of the feeler gagement between the teeth 25 and thefilling upon the filling carrierwithin the shuttle will prevent thelateraL'movement just men,

tioned so long as *there-"is a substantial amount of filling upon thefilling carrier. When, however, substantial exhaustlon has been reached,the toothed end of the feeler will no longer be held by the fillingagainst lateral movement on a detecting beat, whereupon a 'sufiicient,lateral movement will be I imparted to the portion 20 of the feeler mem-.ber;to: rock the pivoted lever 26 and thereby e'fi'ect replenishment.of fillingl-- in a well known ma'nner. l

It will be apparent that variouschanges; -may be made in the feelerherein disclosed" without departingfrom the true scope of. the

invention defined in the annexed clai ns For example, the coils 21 and'24 are pro -iifward-the front of the loom by the surface vided merelyto increase the resiliency of the f-eeler;'and it will be seen that ifthe material out of which thefeeler member is parts swinging movement tosaid lever upon 130 constructed is sufiiciently resilient, these coilsmay be omitted. And as above stated, various other obvious changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as applicantbelieves himself to'be the first in this art to provide an inherentlyresilient feeler constructed and arranged to effect replenishment offilling when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted on adetecting beat.

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler stand, a feeler operated lever pivotally mountedupon said,

stand, means for effecting replenishment offilling when the lever isturned upon its pivot, and an inherently resilient,feeler having aportion secured in fixed position to said stand and provided with atoothed portion to engage a surface within the shuttle on each detectingbeat and with a portion slidably secured to said lever.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, th combination of a resilient feelercom rismg a front portion which is secured in xed position and arearwardly extended portion to engage the filling and cause the feelerto flex or bend between the fixed front portion and the filling engagingportion as the lay moves frontwardly on a detecting beat, and means foreffecting replenishment of filling when the filling engaging portion ofthe feeler is moved longitudinally. of the-shuttle on a detecting beat.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the comblnatlon of a feeler stand, aresilient feeler having its front portion secured to the feeler stand infixed position and provided with a rearwardly extended filling engagingportion which is moved frontwardly on each detecting beat and whichcauses the feeler to 1 flex or bond between the fixed front and fillmgengaging portions, and means for effecting replenishment of: fillingwhen the feeler is moved along the filling carrier on a detecting beat.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the.

combination of a feeler stand, a feeler operated lever' pivotallymounted upon said stand, means for. efi'ectin'g replenishment of fillingwhen the lever is turned upon its ivot, and an inherently resilientfeeler aving ailaterally projectlng portion rigidly secured to said.-stand, an intermediate toothe'd'portion positioned to yieldingly en'-gage a surface within the shuttle on each detecting beat, and a thirdportion slidably secured to said pivoted lever, said feeler con-'structed through its inherent resiliency to g exert alateral swingingforce on the toothed portion thereof when the feeler is forcedtosziidtoothed portion with said surface imsubstantial exhaustion of thefilling within the shuttle.

5. A feeler mechanism for looms comprising, in combination, a feelerstand, a feeler operated lever pivotally mounted thereupon,

an inherently resilient feeler having a laterally-extending portionthereof rigidlysecured to said stand, a second portion provided withteeth to engage a surface within the shuttle on each detecting beat anda third portion slidably secured to said pivoted lever, said feelerthrough its construction and inherent resiliency operating to exert alateral swinging force on the toothed portion thereof upon the samebeing forced toward the front of the loom by the surface within theshuttle, said toothed portion held by the filling against lateralmovement on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of the fillingoccurs.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand,and an inherently resilient feeler having a laterally extending portionsecured in fixed position to the feeler stand and a rearwardly extendingportion provided with teeth to engage a surface within the shuttle on adetecting beat and prevent movement of the feeler longitudinally of thebobbin as it is flexed by the frontward pressure until the filling issubstantially exhausted.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a fixed stand,and an inherently resilient feeler having a rearwardly extending portionprovided with teeth to engage a surface within the shuttle on adetecting beat and a laterally extending portion non-movably secured tothe fixed stand, said rearwardly extending portion adapted to be movedfrontwardly upon a detecting beat by flexing said lateral portion and tobe held by the filling from moving longitudinally of the shuttle untilfilling is substantially exhausted.

8. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feelerstand, a resilient feeler having a laterally projecting portion rigidlysecured to said stand and a rearwardly extending portion provided withteeth positioned to yieldingly engage a surface within the shuttle oneach detecting beat and to be held from movement longitudinally of theshuttle by the filling -until substantial exhaustion thereof, saidfeeler through its construction and resiliency operating to exert alateral swinging force on the toothed portion thereof by pressure towardthe front of the loom and means for eflecting replenishment of filling.

9. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, aninherently resilient feeler having a laterally extended portion securedin fixed position and a rearwardly extending filling engaging portionfor engaging the filling in the shuttle and flexing the lateralresilient portion of the feeler on a detecting beat.

10. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising in its construction, aninherently resilient feeler having a filling engaging portion, and meansfor securing the front portion of the feeler inposition to cause flexureof the portions of the feeler intermediate its ends when the feeler ismoved frontwardly on a detecting beat.

11. An inherently resilient Wire feeler having a rear filling engagingportion provided with teeth to engage a surface within the shuttle on adetecting beat, and means for supporting the feeler to cause it to bebent or flexed by frontward pressure of said surface upon the feeler.

12. A resilient wire feeler having a rear bent portion provided withteeth to engage a surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, and alaterally-extending portion secured in fixed position and adapted tobend or flex when the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat.

13. A resilient wire feeler having a rearwardly-extending portion toengage a surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, alaterally-extending resilient portion tending to move the wire feelermember rearwardly and longitudinally along the filling carrier whenplaced under tension by frontward displacement of the feeler member. 14.An inherently resilient feeler having a rearwardly extended portion toengage a surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, and constructedand arranged to be bent or flexed as the feeler is moved front- Wardlyby the pressure of a surface within the shuttle and thereby produce aforce in the feeler itself tending to move the rear portion of thefeeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

15. An inherently resilient feeler having a rearwardly extended fillingengaging end, and a coil frontward of the engaging end, and means forsupporting the feeler constructed and arranged to cause the coil to beflexed or bent when the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beatto thereby produce a force in the feeler itself tending to move theengaging end of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ISAAC SNOW.

